A new foundation supporting pediatric therapy students honors Aaron and Marie Takahashi’s daughter.
Aaron and Marie Takahashi have established a new nonprofit organization, Hugs From Sherilyn, to honor their five-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Sherilyn Takahashi, who passed away on Dec. 9, 2025 from complications that arose from chronic lung disease and pulmonary hypertension, which resulted from the treatment of her brain cancer.
Pediatric therapy played a pivotal role in their daughter’s recovery and development during her lifespan. The foundation will support individuals pursuing a career in pediatric therapy by granting scholarships and providing community outreach.
The Hugs From Sherilyn Dance Benefit & Launch Party will be held on Saturday, Aug. 22, from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. at the Kaikan at Nishi Hongwanji, 815 E. First St. in Little Tokyo. This kick-off event will feature a live performance by Kokoro (indoors); DJ sets from KFA, Kut Above and OG Sounds (outdoors); agua frescas from Agua Cabana; a ramen bar featuring cup noodles; and much more.
Indoor tables for ten, outdoor tables for eight, and general admission tickets are now on sale. For more information regarding table reservations and ticket purchase, or to donate, contact hugsfromsherilyn@ gmail.com.
Sherilyn was born on June 10, 2020. She was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor five months later. She battled through two surgeries, six cycles of chemotherapy, three rounds of stem cell replacement, infantile spasms and a stroke, and beat cancer. This is how she earned the nickname of the Warrior Princess.
In addition to in-home and other therapy appointments, her regimen included three sessions twice a week at NAPA Center for physical, occupational, speech and feeding therapy. With the guidance of her therapists, Sherilyn gained strength, grew more confident, learned how to build relationships with others, and, most of all, had fun.
Despite having to deal with physical, cognitive, and developmental delays, Sherilyn thrived. She was curious, playful, and sassy. She loved giving hugs and kisses, which is how the Takahashis decided on the name of their foundation.
The foundation will provide scholarships for those pursuing a profession in the field of pediatric therapy – physical, occupational, speech, feeding. The intention is to provide these talented caregivers the financial support they need to become outstanding professionals as they help children, especially those with special needs, to gain confidence to live fulfilling lives by triumphing over their unique adversities through physical, cognitive, and communicative development.
Aaron Takahashi is an actor who has appeared in over 100 commercials, has had featured roles in films such as “Yes Man” and “The Wedding Ringer,” and played recurring characters on TV shows such as “Mr. Robot” and “Sydney to the Max.”
“Sherilyn was a happy and curious young girl,” he said. “She had a quiet confidence about her. This was a result of highly personalized therapy sessions with patient and compassionate pediatric therapists. There is no doubt in my mind that Sherilyn lived her best life possible thanks to these heroes. They treated her like family.”
Marie Takahashi has been with L.A. Unified School District for the past 25 years as an elementary teacher, intervention coordinator, assistant principal, instructional coordinator, and currently magnet coordinator.
“Sherilyn was an amazing little girl who brought a smile and light to everyone she met,” she said. “As her parents, we experienced firsthand the importance of early intervention and the impact that high-quality pediatric therapy had on her life. We created Hugs From Sherilyn to carry on her legacy. We hope to enrich the lives of other children and their families by supporting pediatric therapy students.”
Hugs From Sherilyn is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located at 16925 Devonshire St., Suite 105, Unit 181, Granada Hills, CA 91344. For more information, email hugsfromsherilyn@gmail.com or visit @hugsfromsherilyn on Instagram. HugsFromSherilyn.org will be coming soon.